The Masters tournament is an annual golf tournament held at the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia. The tournament is considered one of the four major championships on the PGA Tour, along with the United States Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship.
The 2010 Masters tournament begins on April 8, 2010 and concludes on April 11, 2010. Angel Cabrera is the defending champion, winning a three man playoff with Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell to claim the coveted green jacket. http://www.masters.com/en_US/history/past_winners.html
It was announced in mid March that The Masters would be the tournament where Tiger Woods would make his return to competitive golf. This will be Woods's first tournament since allegations of marital infidelity, the car accident outside his home and the fallout that came from it took place back in November 2009. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/golf/wires/03/30/2070.ap.glf.masters.tv.adv03.1019/
The Masters
The Masters was played for the first time in 1934, when it was known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. The course that it is played on, Augusta National, was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1931, though the course was not ready until 1933. It was designed by Alistair McKenzie, who sadly died before the first Masters took place on the course.
Horton Smith won the first tournament in 1934. The tournament's name was changed to the Masters in 1939. The Par 3 contest came into play in 1960 and the Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus was the first golfer to win successive Masters tournaments, pulling the feat in 1965 and 1966. http://www.masters.com/en_US/history/green_jacket.html#history_glance
Nicklaus has won more Masters tournaments than any other golfer, tallying a total of six from 1963 to 1986. Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods are the only others with as many as four green jackets. The only two players other than Nicklaus to repeat as Masters champions are Nick Faldo (in 1989 and 1990 and Woods in 2001 and 2002. Gary Player was the first non American to win the tournament, in 1961. http://www.masters.com/en_US/history/past_winners.html
Tiger Woods Chip on 16 at The Masters
A classic clip of Tiger Woods drilling a long chip shot from the fringe on the sixteenth hole of Augusta National en route to winning the 2005 Masters. Verne Lundquist has the call for CBS. Lundquist also called a famous birdie putt by Jack Nicklaus en route to his win in the 1986 Masters.
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Fast Facts
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Tiger Woods considered the favorite for 2010 Masters
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Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington also mentioned as betting favorites
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Woods making his first return to competition since November 2009
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Winner of Par 3 contest has never won the Masters in the same year
